A widow with secretsWhen the dangerous men who killed her husband in a political assassination threaten Ara, Duchess of Burghly, the Crown assigns her a bodyguard. But the man charged with protecting her is no stranger.He’s Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of a duke and the first man she ever loved. Eight years after he took her innocence and ruthlessly abandoned her, he’s back in her drawing room … he’s back in her drawing room and her life.
This time, she’s older, wiser, and stronger. She will resist him at any cost and make him pay for the past.
A spy with a broken heart
She’s the only woman Clay ever loved and the one he hates above all others. When Ara brutally betrayed and deceived him, leaving him with a scarred face and a bitter heart, he devoted himself to earning his reputation as one of the Crown’s most feared agents.
He wants nothing more than to finish his assignment so that he can remove all traces of her from his life forever. But walking away from her for good won’t be as easy as he thinks.
As secrets are revealed and danger threatens Ara, Clay discovers that the truth is far more complicated than deceit. Once she’s back in his arms where she belongs, he’ll wage the biggest fight of all to keep her there.
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This is an absolutely lovely second chance romance. Two wonderful young people who were very much in love and were torn apart by a nasty fiend. Eight years later, they get their chance to find love with each other again. The story is well written and excellently delivered. I loved both of the main characters and could absolutely feel the love they had for each other even after all that was done to them. Great read.
The story jumps back and forth in time – part of it telling the events of eight years earlier and part of it telling their current story. The main setting is London in 1882 – during the time the Irish Finians are using terrorism to gain home rule for Ireland. Many of their tactics are the same as terrorists use today.
Clayton Ludlow is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Carlisle. The duke raised Clay alongside his legitimate son. The Duke loved Clay’s mother and they all lived together as a family – leaving the Duke’s cold and unfeeling wife on her own. I didn’t understand the little I saw of Clay’s brother, Leo. He was raised in a very loving home with a woman who loved him and treated him as if he were her own. However, he appears to be very aloof and unfeeling in this book. I guess we’ll learn more about him in the next book.
Lady Araminta (Ara) Winters is the youngest child of the Earl of Wickham. She’s bright, funny, loving, and unspoiled. It is kind of hard to imagine her being so sweet given the parents she has. She had two seasons but just hasn’t found anyone who curled her toes.
When she’s out riding one day Araminta sees the most gorgeous young man running down the path. She conceals herself so she can admire him without being seen. She returns the next day and the next and the next before he finally confronts her. They spend more and more time together and fall in love with each other. They finally make plans to marry without her father’s consent and agreed to meet at dawn to leave. Dastardly deeds intervene and each thinks the other has betrayed them.
Eight years later, Clay works for an elite organization in the Home Office and Ara has just become the widow of a duke who was killed by the Finians. The Finians are now threatening Ara’s life as well and the Home Office assigns Clay to her protection. He fights the assignment, but in the end, he has no choice but to accept.
It was a wonderful time watching these two very lovely people find that their love had never died. They slowly come to realize what happened to them all those years ago and they realize that they can now have all they lost.
I definitely recommend this book!
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
4.5 stars
Araminta “Ara”, Duchess of Burghly is a widow, her husband was brutally murdered by Fenian assassins and now the Duke of Carlisle, head of a government agency known as the “League” is in her drawing room telling her the same men are after her. But that is not what is upsetting her the most. No, what is most upsetting is the man he brought with him – Clayton Ludlow, his half-brother, colleague and the man that Ara loved with all her heart and who betrayed her.
Clay wants nothing to do with Ara, he refuses to take the mission and insists that Leo find someone else. Ara is just as lovely as she was eight years ago and probably just as deceitful – she ruined his life, made him believe she loved him and then turned on him, leaving him with a scarred face and a broken heart.
But when Leo refuses to let him be reassigned, Clay decides to make the best of the situation, but this time he won’t fall victim to her wiles. He makes his position clear, he is not her servant and does not answer to her. She makes hers clear as well, she hates him and wants him gone. But for the sake of her son, she will cooperate – for now.
This is a very well written, emotional story with lots of secrets, heartache and a second chance at the love of a lifetime. But before these two can have a HEA, they will need to revisit the past, with all it’s highs and lows, lies and betrayals, as well as their lack of faith in each other and of course, they will also have to stop the people who are trying to kill Ara. For a good portion of the book, they are angry and bitter, but thankfully the author inserts several flashbacks to when they were in love, which saves the reader from being overwhelmed by their current hatefulness to each other. The book has a little of everything, assassins, lies, heartbreak, secrets, moments of joy, true love, red-hot love scenes and wonderful secondary characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to Leo’s story.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
I really loved this book and it is at the top of the list for books I have read in the past year. Our hero, Mr. Clay Ludlow, was first introduced to us in Her Deceptive Duke and he worked for the Crown protecting a Duchess who rescues animals. We his assignment was over she gifted him the cat he had helped her with named Sherman.
Our heroine, Araminta “Ara”, the Duchess of Burghly, is assigned a man from the Crown to protect her and her son from a group threatening her after they murdered her husband.
The worst possible man was sent – Mr. Clay Ludlow, her first and only man she had ever loved, Both her and Clay thought the other one betrayed them on the day they were supposed to run away and marry,
Old memories, old desires, danger, fireworks, love, surprises are just a few things that happen – Ara and Clay were the best couple and you fell in love with both of them and the secondary characters were great too. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for Leo’s story next!
A captivating, breathtaking, passionate story that will twist your heart while filling it with a wonderful second chance romance! Scarlett Scott has fast become one of my favorite authors, who fulfills everything I want out of a romance novel and beyond. This highly charged story presents Ara and Clayton, two intriguing, passionate and guarded people, who had know each other years ago and now come back together unexpectedly.
Ara, the Duchess of Burghly, is assigned a bodyguard by the Crown since she was being threatened by a group of dangerous men who killed her husband. But no, it could not be! They sent Clayton, the first man she had ever loved. Each thinking the other betrayed them, the old emotions come forward with fireworks!
I loved the dialogue and interaction between these two! Once I started reading I literally could not put it down! Stayed up into the early morning and could only sigh as I turned the last page. Suspense, humor and an amazing array of characters you cannot help but adore makes this tale a keeper, leaving me anxiously awaiting the next book in the League of Dukes! Trust me, this is a must read!!
Nobody’s Duke by Scarlett Scott is book One in the League of Dukes Series. This is the story of Clayton Ludlow and Ara, Duchess of Burghly.
Ara’s husband was murdered and now she is in need of protection. The Crown sends their most feared agent, Clay. Ara and Clay were once in love but betrayal turn them tore them apart. Clay isn’t happy to be once more with Ara after what he feels she did to him. Ara too is hurt by what she thinks Clay did to her. Which in turn made her make a decision she had to live with ever since. Clay just wants to get in…get the job done and leave which is what Ara thinks she wants too. But they slowly start to get to know the person now that they are and learn that everything wasn’t as they thought so long ago.
Loved their second chance at Love Story!!!
When the dangerous men who killed her husband Freddie in a political assassination threaten Ara, Duchess of Burghly, the Crown assigns her a bodyguard. But the man charged with protecting her is no stranger. He’s Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of a duke and the first man she ever loved. Eight years after he took her innocence and ruthlessly abandoned her, he’s back in her drawing room and her life. She’s the only woman Clay ever loved and the one he hates above all others. When Ara brutally betrayed and deceived him, leaving him with a scarred face and a bitter heart, he devoted himself to earning his reputation as one of the Crown’s most feared agents.
We met Clay in Her Deceptive Duke & I loved him in that book so I’m really glad he’s the hero of this one, also the start of a new series. This is my favourite trop of enemies (or are they?) to lovers, throw in second chances & I’m a very happy bunny. I lost myself in the book & found it very hard to put down, the pace is very good & towards the end couldn’t read fast enough, the characters have plenty of depth. The dialogue between Clay & Ara is delightful & very entertaining. I particularly loved how Clay & Edward bonded from their first meeting & how their relationship developed. The story flows effortlessly, I was hooked from the first page to the last. I’m not usually fond of flashbacks however in this case they worked & formed an integral part of the story. Bloodthirsty me would have liked for a certain Earl to have had his comeuppance. I look forward to the rest of the series especially Leo’s story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Nobody’s Duke by Scarlett Scott is an outstanding historical second chance romance. Ms. Scott has given readers a well-written book and furnished it with a cast of characters that is stellar. Clayton (you may remember him from Her Deceptive Duke) is ordered to protect Araminta from assassins that have already murdered her husband. Ara and Clay’s story is packed with drama, humor, sizzle, action and suspense. I enjoyed every page of this book and look forward to reading more from Scarlett Scott in the future. Nobody’s Duke is book 1 of the League of Dukes Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from a third party. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The first book in the League of Dukes series, I thought I would only read a couple of chapters and go to sleep, Wrong once started I was not putting this book down. Ara, Duchess of Burghly has been assigned a bodyguard after the murder of her husband Freddy. Clayton Ludlow did not want to be her bodyguard but he works for his brother Leo and has been to either do it or lose everything he has worked for. These two have history and do not want to be near each other, but what happens when they find out they where betrayed that night and by who. I recommend this book. I read this book through KU.
Wow. Just wow. Scarlett Scott is an author that has been on my radar for a while now, so I finally carved out some time to read one of her novels and she did NOT disappoint! She is a master at weaving in such powerful and visceral emotions into her characters that readers cannot help but experience as they bleed through the pages of her novel. The characters and their emotional journey are definitely the main driving force in this book, and what a powerful and heartbreaking journey it was.
I absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend this amazing and heartfelt story! Scarlett Scott has become one of my go-to authors, and I cannot wait to continue reading her novels. I’d recommend this to readers of historical romance who love strong characters and a rollercoaster love story in a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers/hero protector trope.
This book has everything you would ever want in a historical romance story! I’ve just finished reading and my heart is so full. Ara and Clay were young lovers at one time and had plans to marry but unbeknownst to Ara, her father had arrange to have Clay stopped by hiring someone to assault him and carve him up. Of course, this all leads to misunderstandings….Ara thinks Clay changed his mind about eloping with her when he doesn’t show up and Clay thinks Ara wants nothing to do with him when he is shown a letter that she apparently wrote. Forward 8 years and Ara and Clay meet up again, both very bitter but the passion they always felt for each other remains. Not only has Ara married and has a son, she is now a widow, her husband having been murdered. Clay is hired to protect her and what follows is a story filled with intrigue, heartache, passion, unveiled secrets, etc. I really did love their story and loved both characters!! A solid 5 star rating.
From the first page Scarlett kept me glued to the sparks flying between Araminta and Clay. Here is a man without title and also a master’s in love with a daughter of an Earl.
You think like Romeo and Juliet, you’re not alone but you’re not right either.
Parents intervened, two are separated and years pass with lies and hurt between them.Then a murder, a threat, and the lovers meet again….
Scarlett Scott has you so caught up that you just can’t stop reading til the end and what an ending.
This book is the first of new series and the first book that I have read by Scarlett, I love how inbetween chapters that she catches us up (the reader) of Clay and Ara’s past and then blends in the present she’s an outstanding author that I am now claiming as one of my favorite authors.Now on to her next book
Second chance romances are my catnip. I cannot resist and this story really took me into the lives and emotions of Clay and Ara. Normally I would say to the characters just talk it out and get past the confusion but in this story I liked how it played out. It was brought to us in little morsels at a time. And Clay, ooh-la-la, sexy to the max in a brooding alpha way. I loved that both characters were strong and when some bits of truth came out they acknowledged that it was true and did not hold grudges. A lovely story that continues with Clay’s brother and …… Cannot wait.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
I always enjoy Ms. Scott’s books! Ara and Clay are young and in love!! She is a beautiful Lady and he a out of wedlock son to a Duke.
Eight years pass, she is a widow with a son. A terror group killed her husband and now they are after her and her son.
Clayton works for the Crown, and assigned to protect her and her son. They discover they still have feelings for each other.
I highly recommend this book! Ms. Scott attention to detail, the depth of emotion they have for each!!
Steamy love scenes, and a very beautiful story!
When her husband is assassinated in a politically motivated attack, Araminta, the Dowager Duchess of Burghly, is also under threat. The Crown assigns her a full-time bodyguard, but the man is not a stranger to her, but rather the only man she has ever loved. Clayton Ludlow, illegitimate but beloved son of a duke, coldly abandoned her and broke her heart, after taking her innocence, eight years ago and he’s the last person Ara wants to see now. But Ara is older and stronger now and capable of resisting Clay’s charms and making him atone for his past mistakes.
Clay has never loved any other woman but Ara, yet he hates her too. Her brutal betrayal left him with a vicious scar on his face to match the one on his heart. Since then he has thrown himself wholeheartedly into some of the Crown’s most dangerous missions, making himself a highly feared and respected agent and the only one to be trusted with this assignment.
Clay only wants to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible and remove himself from Ara’s presence forever, but leaving her proves harder than he would like. When secrets come to light and danger comes ever closer, Clay learns the truth is far from what he imagined and with Ara restored to him, he will do whatever it takes to keep her forever.
I didn’t like this book nearly as much as I wanted to. The flashbacks and ruminations on the past somehow became a rather repetitive for me and jarred me out of the story at times. Mostly, however, my issue was Ara. I know she’d been through a lot, but she was either raging or sobbing and it was hard to keep up with her. Also, her hatefulness toward Clay, even if he was rather rude to her in return, made her hard to stomach, especially when she was so haughty and belittling to him. The lack of communication between Ara and Clay went on entirely too long, continuing the misinformation of the past that tore them apart in the first place and leaving them still sniping at each other even at the 57% mark, only to then devolve into what is essentially hate sex. It took much too long for real, open communication to happen between these two and then suddenly, once the truth was at last revealed, everything was perfectly fine. There were no apologies necessary for how mean they were to each other, especially her awful behavior, they just went on as if nothing happened and I just didn’t quite buy it. This felt like a missed opportunity to me for some real emotional bonding and a lovely heart to heart that just didn’t ever come. The final drama felt a bit rushed and predictable, but I did love the steamy scenes between Ara and Clay once they progressed from trying to hurt each other to expressing genuine love and it was nice to see that their love never died even after everything they went through.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspot.com/2021/07/nobodys-duke-by-scarlett-scott-audio.html
An all consuming regency love story that keeps you captivated to the end. I love a scarred angst filled hero. Clay and Ara were wonderful together and I loved their second chance to happiness. Lots of misunderstanding and deceit, great build up to the truth and their passion and love is undeniable.
Endearing and entertaining.
A love story about destiny – Widowed Lady Ara, Duchess of Burghly and her 7 year old son, are assigned a bodyguard from the Crown after the assassination of her husband. He turns out to be Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of the Duke of Carlisle, her first and only love 8 years ago. He abandoned her after she willingly gave her innocence and left her to her heartless family’s decision – either marry or give up the baby. Fate brought her Freddie, Duke of Burghly along with a platonic marriage, until he was killed. Ara was the only woman Clay ever loved. Even in her cruel betrayal that left him with a brutal facial scar and a bitter, wounded heart he earned a reputation as the most feared Crown agent. His half brother puts him in charge of seeing to the safety of Ara and Edward – an assignment he longs to end so he can remove her and painful memories from his life. But the truth will be revealed to both in spite of their unwillingness to hear what truly happened to part them so heartlessly. For true love never dies – it survives the tragedies and afflictions and emerges stronger! Murder, mystery, snobbery, arrogance, political injustice all can be vanquished by trust, faith and love. Clay and Ara’s story is uplifting and enchanting!!
Ara and Clay are reunited years after their attempted elopement is foiled. Each thinks that the other played them for a fool. Years later, death threats have been received on Ara, and Clay is tasked with guarding her and keeping her safe. Very good story.
This is a series that you can really sink your teeth into. Each can be read as a stand alone but you will thank me later for suggesting you read them all! This particular book ticked all boxes for me. Witty, romantic, intrigue- it literally has it all. You will not find milksop heroines with Scarlett Scott and you will always root for her heroes. This is one of my go to books and I keep Scott on my preorder tabs!
Ara’s husband was killed and now her life is in danger and the crown sends an agent to protect her, only she gets the shock of her life, it is her long lost love Clay the man who betrayed her. Clay was livid that his brother who is also kind of his boss has him protecting the woman that had betrayed him and he hates her and does not want to do the job. They are at each others throats and I have to say that I almost stopped reading because they started to annoy me but then I was happy to have continued. When they both find out what really happened and how they were both played with and lost so much time together, now Clay is going to hold on to Ara and protect her and his family and no one is going to hurt them. My only issue was how come they didn’t confront the person or persons that committed this travesty to them..I want justice..
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.